Off-brand prop guards: better than going directly with the manufacturer?

Prop guards are essential accessories for drone owners, offering protection for both your drone and its surroundings. Especially if you’re flying indoors, prop guards can protect your walls or furniture from potential hits. And hey, that applies outdoors too. If you’re flying around kids, pets, other adults, or, well, really anything, prop guards add a layer of safety.

Plus, drone propeller guards can minimize the chance of the drone fully crashing from a small wall bump. With prop guards, the drone may be able to just bounce right off the wall (or whatever it has made contact with ) and continue flying.

So here’s the thing: you can buy them directly from your drone’s manufacturer (e.g. DJI and Autel), or you can buy them through third-parties. PGYTECH is one of the biggest manufacturers of third-party prop guards. Craznick also seems to come up in the prop guard scene. Though, they are most famous for their colorful, LED propellers. And there are plenty more third-part prop guard makers — many of which come and go.

But is it worth buying these off-brand drone prop guards versus going straight to the source and buying directly from the drone maker?

The big reason to go off brand is price. Here’s a comparison on price of prop guards for some of the most popular drone models, when purchased directly through the maker (e.g. DJI and Autel) versus thid-parties (e.g. PGYTECH):

Can I save money on prop guards by buying third-party?

Clearly, yes. But saving money now might not necessarily save you money, nor headache (and headache = money) in the long-run.

Here are some risks you run when you buy from a third-party drone accessory maker:

• Risk of incompatibility: As is the case with really any accessory, there might be slight variations in fit or functionality. While many third-party options claim compatibility, always check product specifications carefully.
• Build quality might not be up to par: Generally prop guards from the big drone makers like DJI are constructed from high-quality materials. They prioritize durability and impact resistance. For example, DJI uses high-flexural-strength material on its newest models. With third-party prop guards, quality can vary significantly. Some third-party guards use cheaper materials, affecting their longevity and protective capabilities. Those materials might also be heavier, which can negatively impact flight times.
• Inferior design: Prop guards minimize impact on flight performance via aerodynamic design, but you might find that also reducing flight times. The worst-designed prop guards might even obstruct the camera’s view.
• Annoying user experience: With official models, user experience also tends to be at the forefront, with features like quick-release mechanisms. For example, most DJI propeller guards feature a 2-section quick mount design that makes it easy to install and remove. That might not necessarily be the case when you buy the third-party version, which can sometimes compromise on aerodynamics for cost-effectiveness.

While third-party prop guards might offer cost savings, weigh the potential for drawbacks.

Related read: Watch out for these risks of buying used drones

When to buy third-party prop guards

That said, there are plenty of great prop guards out there. Those highlighted above from brands like PGYTech and Dwdzey tend to get excellent reviews. Especially because they’re designed to fit specific drone models, they actually do fit the product you’re buying for. And, the quality is still high.

As is the case with nearly any drone accessory, there are some situations where buying third-party prop guards can make sense — and when it doesn’t. Here are some situations when you are better off going the third-party route:

• The accessory won’t impact your warranty: Those warranty terms vary by drone, generally popping on third-party prop guards won’t impact your drone’s warranty. But a more invasive accessory, say replacing the built-in camera with another one, could. Understand your warranty terms, and the potential for voiding it, if you add products not endorsed by the manufacturer.
• The reviews are good: You wouldn’t book an Airbnb with no reviews, right? So don’t buy prop guards with no reviews either. Especially given that these products come from unnamed companies, you’re best off going with one that has endorsements from drone pilots already.
• The savings are high: In some of those examples in the table, the savings hover around a 50% discount. But if you’re only saving a couple bucks, the piece of mind of going with the official product might be worth it — especially given how much you already spent on the drone.

Tell me: have you had success using third-party prop guards? Or have they turned into a horror story? Share your experiences in the comments!

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